YOUNG women living in Gorton have spoken of their fear after it emerged the community is being stalked by two serial sex attackers.

YOUNG women living in Gorton have spoken of their fear after it emerged the community is being stalked by two serial sex attackers.

Detectives revealed yesterday that they are hunting a knife-wielding attacker thought to be responsible for 14 assaults on women in the east Manchester suburb and surrounding areas.

Police were already investigating another series of sex attacks in Gorton carried out by a separate offender since February this year.

The attacks have terrified the close-knit community where many women know the victims as relatives, neighbours or former school friends.

Mother-of-two Nicola Calladine, 27, told the Manchester Evening News: "None of us go out anymore. We used to go to each other's houses to meet up, but now it is out to pick the children up from school, then straight home. We don't walk anywhere on our own."

Belinda McGlone, 26, also from Gorton added: "It is worse at the weekends for us when we want to go out. It is terrifying. I have to make specific arrangements to get a taxi or ask my boyfriend to meet me."

Like many other young women, Belinda is angry that the police have not done more to warn the local community about the danger.

The absence of official information has led to rumours - including a false story that one victim had been killed.

Belinda said: "We should have been warned sooner to be on our guard, and given descriptions of the people involved so that we know what and who to be on the look-out for. Some people were given leaflets at school, but what about those who do not have children at school?"

Self-defence

Police have stepped up patrols and are advising women to take precautions such as walking in groups and avoiding lonely areas.

They say although it is against the law to carry a weapon, items such as a can of hair spray or a bunch of keys can be used in self-defence.

The first wave of attacks in Gorton began in February this year and continued up to August. They include a rape and five other assaults.

Police believe a separate, second attacker is responsible for raping one woman and attacking 13 others during a series of attacks in Gorton, Reddish, Openshaw, Droylsden and Heaton Chapel starting in July this year.

The most recent incident was the rape of a 28-year woman in Debdale Park, Gorton, on September 29.

Police believe the 14 attacks could be the work of the same spotty man in his late teens or early 20s who carries a knife and uses a red and black mountain bike to get around.

Police say there are important "operational" reasons why the information about the second attacker was not issued.